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...Unix, DOS, and Windows XP
(also known as the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly).
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We're prototyping it at the OEM level now

Without revealing who I work for, we are currently prototyping this approach.
My most recent install was in a 2007 530xi.
The system is essentially an intel based pc with a dvd drive, usb connectivity, 300Gb dark drive, nav, am,fm, streaming audio via pandora, yahoo search capability, one shot voice recognition, etc. It uses a standard monitor in the dash and is controlled via the steering wheel controls and the I drive controller from an M6, both on the CAN bus.
Connectivity is optic direct from the pc to the L7 amp. This is the only connection between the pc and the OEM sound system at a signal level.

Without revealing who I work for, we are currently prototyping this approach.
My most recent install was in a 2007 530xi.
The system is essentially an intel based pc with a dvd drive, usb connectivity, 300Gb dark drive, nav, am,fm, streaming audio via pandora, yahoo search capability, one shot voice recognition, etc. It uses a standard monitor in the dash and is controlled via the steering wheel controls and the I drive controller from an M6, both on the CAN bus.
Connectivity is optic direct from the pc to the L7 amp. This is the only connection between the pc and the OEM sound system at a signal level.

Hmm, interesting. Is the optic connection off of the L7 amp a MOST signal, or just an optical connection? Also, does the CAN network in the 530xi give you both PT-CAN and K-CAN data?

After looking at the MINI Cooper R56 WDS and other diagrams, it looks like the MFSW buttons are going to be on the K-CAN (which operates at 100kBits/s), so a CAN-USB interface should be good enough for that and most other sensors other than stuff coming off the PT-CAN (powertrain).

Just an update:
We got protoboard assembled and testing things right now.
Device will be up and running by March.
It will have the following things on it:
- USB slave to communicate with PC and accept PCM audio (digital) from it
- AUX in for analog audio
- USB master for USB stick direct playback (MP3/WMA/AAC/OGG)
Stay tuned, I will post some videos and we will need some brave people to participate
It should be compatible with all latest BMW, MB, AUDI A6 and higher and others that use MOST.
It will not correlate with CAN anyway. Pure infotainment stuff...

Just an update:
We got protoboard assembled and testing things right now.
Device will be up and running by March.
It will have the following things on it:
- USB slave to communicate with PC and accept PCM audio (digital) from it
- AUX in for analog audio
- USB master for USB stick direct playback (MP3/WMA/AAC/OGG)
Stay tuned, I will post some videos and we will need some brave people to participate
It should be compatible with all latest BMW, MB, AUDI A6 and higher and others that use MOST.
It will not correlate with CAN anyway. Pure infotainment stuff...

If it won't interface with the CAN bus in any way, how are you controlling it? Volume, track selection, source, etc.?